Railway Tunnels India
Railway Tunnels India
Overview
Indian Railways owns 6 700 km of route, of which 3 % (≈ 200 km) is inside 1 200-plus tunnels. 95 % of them lie on the 4 mountain systems – the Western & Eastern Ghats, the Himalaya and the Vindhyas – and are critical for freight, strategic & pilgrim traffic. While the first tunnel (Parsik, 1860s) was cut in basalt, today’s longest (Pir Panjal 11.2 km) is Asia’s 3rd longest broad-gauge tunnel. All new tunnels are 2×2 D-shaped, electrified, ballast-less, equipped with SCADA-controlled ventilation & 3-tier escape passages conforming to Railway Board’s “Safety-30” code.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total number of tunnels on IR | 1 275 (as on 31-03-2024) |
| Total route-km inside tunnels | 197.38 km |
| Longest broad-gauge tunnel | Pir Panjal (Banihal-Sangaldan) 11.215 km |
| Longest metre-gauge tunnel (heritage) | Barog (Kalka-Shimla) 1.14 km |
| Deepest point below rail level | Karbude (Ratnagiri) 42 m |
| Oldest tunnel still in use | Parsik (Mumbai) 1.3 km, opened 1865 |
| Highest (altitude) tunnel | Banihal (2 176 m above MSL) |
| First tunnel electrified end-to-end | T-1 (Ghat section) 1967 |
| First tunnel with 5 m head-room for ODC | Rapuru (SCR) 2022 |
| Tallest tunnel cross-section | Chenab bridge approach tunnel 8.2 m |
| Only IR tunnel under a major river bed | Pamban (Rameswaram) 2.3 km |
| Tunnel with longest single escape shaft | Kottavalasa-Kirandul route 1.2 km |
| Total tunnels in Konkan Railway | 92 (83 km) |
| Total tunnels in USBRL project | 38 (119 km) |
| Longest tunnel boring machine (TMM) drive | T-49 USBRL 12.77 km (Udhampur-Katra) |
Important Points
- Konkan Railway holds 1/6th of IR’s tunnels in only 0.4 % of network length.
- USBRL (J&K) will host 10 of India’s 15 rail tunnels > 5 km after 2025.
- All Konkan & USBRL tunnels use 25 kV OHE with rigid catenary; no third rail.
- New tunnels are designed for 160 km/h (future) even where present speed is 100 km/h.
- Basalt & gneiss tunnels (Ghats) need 5-7 % concrete lining; Himalayan tunnels need 100 %.
- “White spot” disease in Konkan tunnels is treated with ferro-silicate injection every 5 yrs.
- Tunnel telephone (SIT) sockets @ 150 m, refuge niche @ 1 km, cross-passage @ 500 m.
- Freight rebate: 30 % for food-grain rakes using Konkan route (2023-25) to offset surcharge.
- Heritage Darjeeling & Kalka-Shimla tunnels are UNESCO buffer; speed capped at 25 km/h.
- No manned gate inside any tunnel > 1 km – TVDS camera with OFC to section control.
- Emergency stopping place (ESP) gradient < 1 in 400 for any new tunnel > 3 km.
- RRB NTPC 2022 CBT-1 asked 3 questions on Pir Panjal length, Konkan tunnels & USBRL.
Frequently Asked in Exams
- Length & zone of Pir Panjal tunnel – 11.215 km, NR.
- Number of tunnels in Konkan Railway – 92.
- Deepest tunnel of IR – Karbude on Konkan (42 m).
- Oldest operational tunnel – Parsik (1865), CR.
- Highest altitude rail tunnel – Banihal (2 176 m).
Practice MCQs
1. The longest railway tunnel of Indian Railways is situated in which state?
> Jammu & Kashmir (Pir Panjal tunnel on Banihal-Sangaldan section)2. How many tunnels are there on the entire Konkan Railway route?
> 923. Which of the following tunnels is NOT on Konkan Railway?
> a) Karbude b) Tike c) Berdewadi d) Barog> Barog (it is on Kalka-Shimla NG section)
BETA
